bent shaft canoe paddles

[eisely]

I used a bent shaft paddle for the first time last week on a 50 miler on the Sacramento River. On the whole I would say that I was more efficient in my paddling. Anybody else have any experience with these paddles? It is not obvious to me just how changing the angle of the blade yields any advantage. Anybody care to explain?

[The Blancmange]

The blade remains perpendicular, or nearer so, to the surface of the water for more of the stroke. This increases the power and efficiency of the stroke. With a straight shaft, both the beginning and end of the stroke are at quite an angle where the power is going up or down, rather than in the direction of travel.

 

Bent shafts are excellent for flat water paddling. They can be less useful, and sometimes even difficult to use, in moving water where you will need power strokes using both sides of the blade.